Place of the Break

“When a man finds that it is his destiny to suffer, he will have to accept his suffering as his task. His unique opportunity lies in the way in which he bears his burden.”

-- Victor Frankl, Holocaust survivor

If you break a bone, often when the cast is removed, another x-ray is taken that shows the previously broken bone as being a much brighter and more solid white on the x-ray than all the surrounding bones. Doctors say such x-rays are typical because the place of the break is the place of greatest strength. That is a profound statement, not as it relates to broken bones, but as it relates to interior brokenness and the spiritual strength that can develop.

You see, whenever you experience a devastating event in your life, a typical first reaction is to be scared, angry, overwhelmed. But very often, after that first reaction, you can find a sense of peace and strength you did not think was possible, if you turn to God. If you turn to God, the brokenness you feel inside begins to heal, and your spiritual journey gets a sudden burst of acceleration. The place of the break is the place of greatest strength.